Effects of varying nitrogen fertilization on crop yield and grain quality of emmer grown in a typical Mediterranean environment in central Italy

► Nitrogen application improved emmer production. ► 60-90 kg N ha−1 applied at tillering maximized emmer grain yield. ► 90 kg N ha−1 applied at stem elongation gave the highest grain protein content (%). ► Split application at three phenological stages maximized protein yield per hectare.